Gas-engine.



1,v BECKMAN.

f /NyE/vro Zai/manu Arron/vars c. BEGKMAN..

VGAS ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEG. 29, 1908,

Patented May 31, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WIr/M8858 C. BBGKMANN.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLmAToN MLB Mau. 29, 190e.

Pamedmay 31, 1910;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. BEGKMANN.

Y GAS ENGINE.

'APPLIUATIOE FILED DBO. 29, 190s.

Patented May 31, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Hymn/ra A TTOH/VE YS C. BECKMANN.

t GAS ENGINE. APPLIUATION FILED DEO. 29, 1908.

Patented May 31, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

w mm m L WIM/8858 A citizen of the Unit-ed States,

erin smi-irs nner' ic CARL BECKMANN, 0F NEW YORK, Y,

GAS-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, v11910..

Application lled December 29, 1908. Serial No. 469,796.

To all 'whom it may concer-n.:

Be it known that I. CARL BECKMANN, s

and e resident of the city of New York, borough of Brook- -'lyn, in the county of Kings and State -of rangement of cylinders about a central shaft,

having inclined or skew wrist pins or cranks,

and by means of the cranks the reciprocating movement of the pistons is transformed into a rotary movement at the shaft. The wheel is so constructed that it operates as a valve controlling the admission and exhaust ot the cylinders.

rl"he invention consists in 'and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying .drawings forming a. part of this speciiication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a section taken through the engine substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, vin this view the cylinders and other parts not shown in section are omitted so as to rel'ider the view more intelligible; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section onthc line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4i is a perspective showing a 'portion of the wheel and one of theV .explosion cylinders, this view illustrates particularly the igniting devices; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through an engine and showing a. modified form of the invention, this section is taken through the modified form ot' engine :i plane corresponding to the plane 2 2 of Fig. 1:, and Fig. (3 is vertical section through the modified torni of engine ond teiten in fr plane corresponding to the plane 3 3 of Fig. l.

Referring more particularly to the part-s, and especially to Figs. -1 to el, inclusive, l

ory skew wrists 8.

the construction cylinders C, C2, C3.

represents the engine casing, which is in the form of a circular shell composed of two dished sections 2 which are bolted together, as shown. The sections 2 are enlarged at their central portions so as to form hub housings 8 containing hub chambers 4c, as

shown. Through the housings 3 a shaft 5 passesloosely, as indicated, saldshaft being in a. horizontal position-end being" mounted in inhoard bearings 6 on each side of the' case. Beyond these bearings 6 the shaft is formed with cranks 7 which have inclined The middle points of these wrists lie on the axis of the shaft, and

the webs 9 of the crankssre disposed' opposite to each other, as shown. Beyond the cranks 7 the shaft is formed with end extensions 10 which are in axial alinemnt -with the body of the shaft and mounted in outboard bearings 11. On the wrists 8, s pair of rockers or spiders 12 are loosely attached, said spiders having arms 13 formed with balls 14 at their extremities, said balls enabling the connecting rods 15 to be at- `tached by means of ball sockets 16, as indicated. The connecting rods 15 are pivotally attached by .pins -17 to istons 18. These pistons reciprocate in cy inders. E', E2, E3, and C, C2, C3. These cylinders are bolted to the side faces of the case 1,. asvindicated.

in Fig. 1, so that the axes of the cylinders are pgxrallel with the axis of the shaft 5.

As shownin Fig. 2, these cylinders are. dis- Thev posed'qidistant from cach other. cylinders E', E2, E3 are explosion cylinders, while the cylinders C, C2, C3 are compresser cylinders. VThe cylinders consist simply of cylindrical walls Without heads, the .wells of the case constitutimg` the heads for the cylinders, as indicated in Fig. 1. In

the operation of this engine it should bel understood that thc explosions take place 'in the cylinders E, E2, E3, while the charges' for these cylinders are compressed in the No explosions .take place in the compressor cylinders.

Rotatably mounted wit-hin the casino- 1, there 'is provided :i wheel 19, which Wheel is attached to the shaft and operates as a ily Wheel :is well :is a valvel controlling the admission to the different cylinders. The inner portion of this wheel is formed into n main chamber or receiver Q0, and near the hub 21 of this Wheel, openings 2i are provided which admit a gaseous fuel into this chamber from the chamber 4, referred to above. The fuel is supplied to the chamber 4 through a suitable supply pipe 23, ccn-- trolled by a valve 24, as indicated.A T he iy wheel consists substantially of two disks 25 which lie fiat against the inner Jfaces of the? shells 2, the said disks being separated to form the chamber 20, as will be readily understood. The rim of the ily wheel is a continuous hollow rim presenting a circular inner Wall 26 and a circular outer wall 27. The space between these walls 26 and 27 is divided by a web 28 into two annular compressing chambers 29. The sides of the wheel are provided with com ressor inlet ports v30. These ports exten around on the wheel throughout substantially one-half the circumference, as indicated in Fig. 42.

. It should be understood that there is one cumference .struck from the "axis of the f shaft as a center like the ports 30. In Fig.

@the arrow indicates the direction of rotaltion of the wheel, and for this direction of rotation the com ressor delivery portsshould have the re ative position shown in this gure, that is, ythey should' he slightly in advance of the lcom ressor inlets. These ports 32 are slightly arther from the axis of the shaft than the erts 3G.- ri`he compression' cylinders C', m2,' C, are provided y with inlet ports 38, and outlet ports 34.

, f-lhese ports are simple rectangular openformed in the'wali of the case, as indicated. 'I`he ports 33 are in alinement with ,the compressor inlets 3G, and the ports are in alinement with 'the compressor de-l livery ports 32. It should be stated that the compressor delivery ports 32 are formed in tli`e outer walls of the compressing chambers 29 so that communication between 'the orts 30 and 32 within .the wall 27 is cut oit y the wall 26.

Referring now articularly to Fig. 2. the disks of the whee are provided with explo sion exhaust ports'35 which are of circumerential form, and these ports extend around vthrougli substantially one-half of the;circun'uference,4 being arranged. on the opposite side of the axis from the perte 30. In addition to these ports 35, explosion inlet ports 36 are provided( These ports are curved 'along an arc struck from the center ofthe shaft, like the other ports, but these ports 36 are quite short and cover in angular degrees onlyabout one-eighth of the entire circumference, ,As indicated in Fig. 2e these` ports 36 are opposite-to the forward end of the ports 30 with respect to the di- In addition to rection ofthe rotation indicated by the arrow. In alineinent with the ports 86 I provide in the outer tace'of the Wheel, igniting pockets'? which are arc-shaped, as 1ndicated, andfprovided withignitingcoils 58. The explosion Acylinders are provided with inlet ports 39 and with exhaust ports 30. T he inlet ports 39 are in alinenient with the ports 36, whereas the exhaust ports, 40 arel in alinement with the explosion exhaust ports 35 of the Wheel. In order to start the engine up the explosion cylinders dd', E2, E3., are provided with spark plugs il arranged as shown.

The mode of operation of this type of engine will now be described.

rlhe fuel being 'admittedto the pipe 23 flows into the receiving chamber 20 near the center of the wheel. As the wheel rotates and as the ports 3G arrive at the ports 33 they will admit the gas into the compressor cylinders. As indicated in Fig. 27 the port 30 has just arrived at'the port 33 of the cour presser cylinder C2. The position of the piston of this cylinder at this time is indicatedlin Fig. l in the .lower part thereofl The outward stroke the piston has just begun and as it takes place it draws a charge until the port 30 passes out of coinmunication with the port 33. This Itakes substantially one-hal of the revolution of the wheel. 0n the iii-stroke of the piston of this cylinder C2, the charge within the cylinder is compressed and this compression continues until the compression delivery port 52 comes into communication with the outlet port 34 from this cylinder. When this takes place within the cylinder .the charge which is compressed is 'discharged into the adjacent compressing chamber 29 of the wheel. As' the revolution of the wheel continues, the port 36 of the wheel comes into alinement'with the pcrt 39 of the cylinder E2 and a compressed charge of gus passes into this cyiinder. forward end of this port 36 .is in alinement with the forward end of the rt fand consequently when the port arrives at the port 39 the piston of the cylinder E2 will he just beginning its outward stroke. v Admission ci' gas intoY this cylinder contirnies until the port 36 passes out of communication with the 'port 39, at which time cut ci will occur. Immediately ater cut-#cil occurs ignition takes'placeby meansof the igniting coil 38 which will come into alinement with the port 39, as indicated; an explosion then ocinthe cylinder When this explosion occurs the crank will he in about its quarter position, that is, it will have 'made one quarter of a revolution from its dead center position for vthis cylinder. yIn this wayi as the wheel rotates each of the compressor cylinders receives and comprees a charge for its corresponding explosion cylinder,

and the explosions in the cylinders take place in succession and in rotation. After the explosion has occurred, about threeeight hs ot' a revolution Wil-l take, place betore exhaust, which begins assoon as the explosion exhaust port comes into alinement With the port 40. This exhaust port. covers substantially 18()D so that on all of their inward strokes the explosion cylinders are open to exhaust.

In Fig. l the explosion cylinder E3 is represented with its pistons on dead center, that is, the crank is in a position in which no turning etllortcould be exerted by a force acting on the piston. At the time that the explosion would occur in this cylinder, hoivever7 the crank would he in its quarter position. as suggested above., On account ot the manner in which the explosions occur it ivill he evident that the shaft is rotated b v a succession of rotative impulses imparted to the cranks in their quarter positions. ltshould be understooil that the cylinder and port arrangements on both sides ot the engine are symmetrical. ln order to balance the reciprocating parts. the cranks 7 are inclined in opposite directions instead of being parallel ivith each other. From this arrangement it tolloivs that pistons on opposite sides of the shell are moving sinniltaneously both toiva rd the case or both avvay from the case. rlhis reduces vibration.

The manner in which the igniting coil cornes into alinement with the ports 3l) in order to cause ignition, is fully illustrated in Fig. 4. The coil 3S is formed ot some metal which iv'll retain the heat imparted to it Wnen the explosion occurs, and 'remains suliiciently heated to cause explosion ot the next charge. but attention is called to the ignition plugs 4l which may be used it' desired. not only tor starting the engine but for maintaining the ignition at'ter the engine is running. 'lhese spark plugs may then be used in connection with timer of any suitable construction.

In the inoditied torni oi the invention indicated in Figs. 5 and (i, a case l2 is provided which is similar to the case described in connection with the preferred form.' In this forni of the invention I do not employ co1npressor'cyl'inders. but I provide a plurality of explosion cylinders 43 which are arranged eireumferentially and secured to the sides of the ease, as indicated in Fig. 5. The

connections 'troni the pistons of these cylini ders to the cranks are theesalne as in the preferred form, and the construction of the crank also the saine. ln this forni of the invention the cylinders are provided with inlet ports el and exhaust ports 45 which are arranged as shown. The Wheel is formed as. before, but the compressor chambers are omitted so that a receiving chamber 46 is formed Within the Wheel encircled by inlet ports 44 of the cylinders, as shown.

rotation.

a Wall 4T. lleyond the Wall 47, flanges are formed on the Wheel, and 1n these flanges exhaust ports 49 are provlded. These exhaust ports t9 are adapted to come into' alinement. with the exhaust ports 'ot' the. cylinders and they extend around throughout substantially 180O as shovn. On the inner side of the wall 4T, the sides of the wheel are provided ivith inlet portsl 50, and these ports are adapted to aline with the In the sides of the Wheel. igniting pockets 5l are provided, and in these pockets 51, ignitiug coils 52 are placed, which are similar to the coils 3S in their` construction and mode oli operation. The cylinders are all provided with spark plugs 53 which may be used for starting the engine or maintaining it in operation,acting as auxiliaries to the main sparking` device 52. The direction of rotation in this form ot the invention is the saine as in the preferred form, as indicated by the arrow in Iiig. 5. The igniting device is disposed slightly in the rear ot' the iuletport Withfrespeet to the direction ot As indicated in Fig. ignition is just beginning for the cylinder iii, Soon after the port 50 passes outI of connnunication with the port 44 of this cylinder. the ignition coil comes under the port t5 and ignition takes place. rlhe cylinder does notexhaustuntil it is just beginning its return stroke, at which time the for iard end of the exhaust port 49 will come in communication with the port. 4 5 of this cylinder as ivill be readily understood. In this forni-ot the invent-ion itwill be evident that an explosion takes place on every outward 1no"einent of each piston, although no compression ot the charge takes place prior to ignition.

In the preferred form ot the invention as,

illustrated in Fig. l, the exhaust gases from the explosion` cylinders pass into the outer portion ot the case from which they find exit through a suitable exhaust. pipe 5l.

Having thus describedniy invention, I

'claim as neiv and desire to secure by Letters Patent,-

l. An engine having a shaft with skeiv cranks` a Wheel mounted on said shaft between said cranks7 cylinders disposed on opposite sides of said'wheel and circumferentially arranged around said shaft, the

axes of said cylinders being substantially parallel with the axisot said shaft., rockers carried by said skew cranks tor rotating the same, pistons reciprocating in said cylinders, and rods connecting said pistons with said rockers.

2. An engine having a shaft with skew cranks, a ivheel mounted on said shatt'hetiveen said cranks, cylinders disposed on opposite sides of said Wheel and circumferentially arranged around said shaft, the axes .of said cylinders being substantially parallel disposed -cating in said cylinders,

entially around said shaft,pistons reciprofl eating inV said cylinders, means connecting said pistons with said shaft forrotating the same, a plurality of compressor cylinders circumferentially around shaft, a Wheel mounted on said shaft and having a recivingchamber for a gaseous fuel, said receiving chamber having ports yvhich may admit to said compressor vcylinders, pistons reciprocating in saidcompressor rylinders and actuated from said shaft, said Wheel having a compressing chamber Which-may communicate With said compressor cylinders to receive a compressed charge therefrom, 'said compressing chamber having a port which may communicate With said explosion cylinders to admit a compressed charge thereto, and means for exploding the charges in said explosion cylind ders.

12. An engine having a shaft, a plurality of explosion cylinders disposed circumferentially around said shaft, pistons recipromeans connecting said pistons with said shaft for rotating the same, a plurality of compressor cylinders disposedcircumferentially around said shaft, a wheel mounted on said shaft, and having a receiving chamber for a gaseous fuel, said receiving chamber having ports YWhich may admit to said compressor cylinders, pistons reciprocating in said compressor cylinders and actuated from said shaft, said Wheel having a compressing chamber which may communicate with said compressor cylinders to receive a compressed' charge therefrom, said compressing chamber ,having a port which may communicate With saidexplosion cylinders to admit a compresed `charge thereto, and means for exploding the charges in said explosion lcylinders, said Wheel having'exhaust ports lxwhich may communicate with said explosion cylinders to exhaust the same.

13. An engine having a shaft, a case-- through 'which said shaft passes, a plurality of explosion cylinders mounted b'oppesite sides of said case, circumferentially arranged labout said shaft and having their axes disposed substantially parallel With said shaft,- pistons reciprocating in said cylinders, means for rotating said shaft through said pistons, a plurality ofLompressor cylinders mounted on said case disposed circumferentially around said shaft, compressor pistons reciprocating in said compressor cylinders, means for reciprocating said compressor pistons, a Wheel mounted on said shaft' and rotating Within said case, said Wheel havinga receiving'chamber for a gaseous fuel, sald receiving chamber having ports adapted to said admit fuel to said compressor' cylinders, means for directing the `compressed charges from said compressor cylinders into s aid explosion cylinders, and means for exploding the charges in said explosion cylinders.

14. through Which said shaft passes,-` a plurality of explosion cylinders attached to said` shaft An engine having a shaft, a case4 and circumferentially disposed around said I shaft, said cylinders having their axesdisposed substantially parallel with said shaft, pistons reciprocating in said explosion cylindcrs, means for rotating said shaft from sal' inders mounted on 'said case and disposed circumferentially'around said shaft, compressor pistons,v reciprocating in said 'compressor cylinders, means'for actuating said com ressor pistons, a Wheel mounted 0n said sha and rotating Within. said case, said Wheel having a receiving chamber for a gaseousffu'el, said receiving chamber having .ports adapted to admit charges to said co'mpressor cylinders, said Wheel further having a compressing chamber having ports adapted to communicate with said compressor cylinders to receive a compressed charge therefrom, said compressor chamber further havpistons,a plurality of compressor cyling ports adapted to communicate with said explosion cylinders to admit the compressed charge thereto, said Wheel further having ports controlling the exhaust from said explosioncylinders, and means for exploding the charges in said explosion cylinders. u,

15. An engine having a shaft, a'plurality of cylinders arranged circumferentially, means for driving said shaft from said cylinders, a Wheel aording means for admitting explosive charges to said cylinders, and` an ignlting d evice carried by said Wheel and passmg said :cylinders successively ,to explode said charges. i

16. An e'n'ine havingfa shaft, a case, a wheel carrie by said shaft and rotating in said case,- a plurality of cylinders attached Y' to said case and having their axes disposed substantially. parallel with s'aid shaft, said cylinders being. arranged circm'lferentiallyl about said shaft, said Wheel aifording means' for admitting explosive charges-,to said cylinders, an igniting device carried by said Wheel and adapted to explode said charges, and means for rotating said shaft from said cylinders.

In testimony whereof In have signed my name to thisspecicatin in the presence Yof -tvvo subscribing Witnesses.

CARL BEciMANN.

Witnesses:

F. HAMMER, JOHN P. DAVIs. 

